Cardsmill Farm Holidays offer a choice of self catering or Bed & Breakfast accommodation on family working farms in the Marshwood Vale.
We welcome guests to stay in this rural, quiet, picturesque part of West Dorset, an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The main farm is Cardsmill with land at Taphouse, Courthouse and Wakelys farm all joining on the main farm. We farm 600 acres of our own and also rent local land. Our dairy herd of 350 milking cows is milked through 6 robotic milkers which are on 24 hours a day. All the calves born are either reared for replacements in the dairy herd or for beef. Taphouse and Courthouse Farms each have beef cattle in the sheds in the autumn/winter months and sheep and cattle in the fields during the summer months. During the spring months about 1100 ewes have their baby lambs mostly outside so its makes a very interesting sight to see them playing in the fields. Some store cattle and lambs are purchased every year. Crops of fodder maize, wheat or barley and grass crops are grown for winter feed, so lots of seasonal jobs to watch.

The West Dorset Jurassic
Coast is 2-6 miles from Taphouse, Courthouse and Wakelys Farms so an
ideal location for the perfect holiday. The church in Whitchurch
Canonicorum has its own patron saint buried in a tomb within the church,
and is noted for its healing powers. The Five Bells has an excellent
reputation for a friendly pub that does meals and outside catering.
During the year there are many activities in the Village Hall and there
is a children’s play area behind the hall open to all.
There are many places to visit locally including the Jurassic coastline,
Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Westbay(Broadchurch),The Chesil Beach towards
Abbotsbury with the Swannery, Children’s farm and Gardens. Weymouth, the
historic county town of Dorchester, Axe Valley Wildlife Park, Forde
Abbey House and Gardens, and Beer model railway, caves and fishing
village. Take a ride on the tram at Seaton and watch the wildlife in the
Axe Estuary, visit the Donkey Sanctuary and the market towns of
Axminster and Bridport .
Walking is very popular along the coastal path to Golden Cap the highest
point of the South Coast, or up to Pilsdon Pen one of the highest inland
hills for spectacular views. Lots of local footpaths to explore, to the
woods or along the River Char, Lamberts Castle, Charmouth Forest,
Stonebarrow Hill and Langdon Woods are all places to park and walk or
admire the views. Horse riding, cycling, golf, swimming, fossil hunting,
seaside sports and fishing all local.

The farms are inspected annually by ABM / FABBL Beef and Lamb Scheme and National Dairy Farm Assurance Scheme for milk production.

Guests are welcome to visit the main farm and can wander around, go to see the robotic milking, calves, beef and sheep and ask questions!!!